Cerebral infarction in conjunction with patent foramen ovale and May-Thurner syndrome

Stroke patients with paradoxical embolus mandate a search for deep venous t hrombosis (DVT) in the lower extremities. Iliac vein compression, or May-Th urner syndrome, places certain patients at risk for development of DVT. The authors present 3 stroke patients with patent foramen ovals and paradoxica l cerebral embolism, with demonstrated iliac vein compression as the presum ed source of their embolus. May-Thurner syndrome should be considered a pot ential source of clot, as definitive therapy of this disorder Gan be curati ve.